Sound-box for talking-machines.



No. 801,979. PATENTED OUT. 17, 1905.

R. L. GIBSON.

SOUND BOX FOR TALKING MACHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1905.

VQFE" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOUND-BOX FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed January 13, 1905- Serial No. 240,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT LAW GIBs'oN, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Sound-Boxes for Talking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to sound-boxes for talking-machines; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part thereof.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide the stylus lever or bar of a sound-box of a talking-machine, such as a gramophone, with a socket to receive a stylus or needle point, and to clamp the stylus by a set-screw having a milled head with which to turn it. The objection to this has been that it is difficult' to operate the screw because of its small size and location, the milled head cuts and abrades the finger and thumb, causing them to become sore, the clamping of the stylus is slow and uncertain, and there is constant liability of losing the screw, as by constant use it becomes worn and loose.

It is the object of my present invention to provide a suitable cam-clamp for the styluslever which shall overcome the above-specified objections.

My invention in its preferred form comprehends the provision of the socket end of the stylus-lever with a transverse rotary or rocking cam-shaft, terminating in an operatingarm by which it may be rocked. It further consists of a spring acting to rotate the camshaft for normally forcing it into clamping position upon the stylus or needle.

My invention also embodies details of construction which, together with the features specified above, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a sound-box provided with my stylus-clamp. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of the sound-box, showing the stylus-clamp. Fig. 4 is a cross-section, enlarged, on the line B B of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line CG of Fig. 4: looking to the right.

a is the socket-head on the stylus-bar d and i is provided with the usual socket 5 for the stylus or needle 0.

f is a rocking shaft journaled in the head a transversely to the socket and near the outer end. This shaft is provided with a cam or clamping portion 6 adjacent to the socket, which when the shaft is turned slightly in one direction will be moved with the socket. The shaft projects beyond the head a at one end and is provided with a finger-piece g, by which the shaft may be rocked. A springa' holds the shaft normally in clamping position-7,. 0., with the flattened or cam portion 6 projectinginto the socket. A small pin 72, extends longitudinally in the head below the cam portion 6 on one side of the socket and acts as a stop to limit the movement of the shaft under the action of the spring when there is no stylus or needle in the socket.

A needle may be inserted by pressing upon the arm 9 with the thumb of one hand, and thereby rocking the shaft f to move the cam portion 0 out of the socket, then inserting the needle with the fingers of the other hand, and finally releasing the piece g. The spring 5 will then rock the shaft back and cause the cam portion 6 to press upon the shank of the needle and clamp it firmly in the socket.

To prevent wearing away of the cam portion, its edge may be slightly rounded. The needle will be released by simply pressing back the piece g to open the clamping-jaw or cam portion 6. If no needle is inserted, the jaw or cam portion will be arrested by the pin it.

I prefer to arrange the clamping-shaft near the outer end of the head a, so that the needle will be clamped near the point.

The essential feature of my invention in its specific form is the rotary or rocking camshaft to clamp the stylus or needle point when combined with a spring to move it into clamping position; but I do not confine myself to anyspecific form of cam-clamp for the stylus, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an adjustable cam-clamp adapted for the purpose of and capable of performing the functions of my invention may be made in many ways as modifications of my invention. Therefore, while I prefer the construction shown as being excellently adapted for the requirements of my invention, I do not-limit myself to the details thereof.

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A sound-box for a talking-machinehaving its stylus-lever provided with an aperture for receiving the stylus and combined with a rotary cam-clamp for holding the stylus in the stylus-lever consisting of a transverse cylin.

drical shaft having a portion of its body inter- IIO mediate of its ends cut away to form a substantially fiat cam-surface to grip the stylus.

2. A sound-box for atalking-machine having its stylus-lever provided with an aperture for receiving the stylus and combined with a spring-actuated rotary cam-clamp for holding the stylus in the stylus-lever consisting of a transverse cylindrical shaft having a portion of its body intermediate of its ends cut away to form a substantially flat cam-surface to grip the stylus.

3. A sound-box for a talking-machine having its stylus-lever provided with an aperture for receiving the stylus and combined with a rotary cam-clamp arranged transversely to one side of the aperture in the stylus-lever for holding the stylus in the stylus-lever consisting of a transverse cam-shaft journaled in the stylus-lever and means to impart a rotary motion to the shaft projecting outwardly away from the plane of the diaphragm and stylus-lever.

4. A sound-box for a talking-machine having its stylus-lever provided with an aperture for receiving the stylus and combined with a rotary cam-clamp for holding the stylus in the stylus-lever consisting of a rotary cam-shaft journaled in the stylus-lever and having an eX tended handle, and a spring to rotate said shaft normally into gripping position.

5. A sound-box for a talking-machine having its stylus-lever provided with an aperture for receiving the stylus and combined with a rotary cam-clamp for holding the stylus in the stylus-lever consisting of a rotary cam-shaft journaled in the stylus-lever and having an eX- tended handle, a stop to limit the extent of rotation of the shaft, and a spring to normally rotate said shaft into gripping position.

6. In a sound-box for talking-machines, a stylus-lever having a socket for receiving the stylus combined with an adjustable transverse shaft journaled in the stylus-lever and flattened to form a cam-clamp for clamping the stylus in the socket and having at one end a laterally-extending arm by which to rock it.

7. In a sound-box for talking-machines, a stylus-lever having a socket for receiving the stylus, combined with a transverse rocking cam-shaft of small diameter whereby the axis of the shaft is in close alinement with the clamping edge of the cam-shaft so as to imparta strong gripping action upon the stylus, a spring constantly acting to rotate the camshaft to grip the stylus, and an outwardly-extending arm to rock the shaft against the action of the spring to release the stylus.

8. In a sound-box for talking-machines, a stylus-lever having a socket for receiving the stylus combined with an adjustable cam-clamp for clamping the stylus in the socket consisting of a transverse shaft f having the flattened portion 6 journaled in the end of the styluslever across the socket and provided with a projecting portion to rock said shaft.

9. In a sound-box for talking-machines, a stylus-lever having a socket for receiving the stylus combined with an adjustable cam-clamp for clamping the stylus in the socket consisting of atransverse shaftf having the flattened portion 6 journaled in the end of the styluslever across the socket and provided with a projecting portion to rock said shaft, and a pin it to hold the shaft in-position against longitudinal movement and limit its rocking or rotary movement.

10. In a sound-box for talking-machines. a stylus-lever having a socket for receiving the stylus combined with an adjustable cam-clamp for clamping the stylus in the socket consisting of a transverse shaftf having the flattened portion 6 journaled in the end of the styluslever across the socket and provided with a projecting portion to rock said shaft, a stop to limit the rocking of the shaft, and a spring to rock the shaft into clamping position.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT LAW GIBSON.

Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, R. M. KELLY. 

